Why did Steve Thomas leave ‘This Old House’?

The launch of the home renovation show “This Old House,” in 1979, changed the landscape of television as it introduced a new genre. Steve Thomas was a part of the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) reality-TV show for 14 years since 1989, and earned an Emmy for Outstanding Service Show Host in 1998. During his time, it became the network’s most-watched series and the highest-rated in that genre in TV history, so loyal viewers wondered why he left the show.
In this video we'll try to answer these questions:
Who is Steve Thomas dating now?
How old is Steve Thomas from This Old House?
How tall is This Old House Steve Thomas?
How much is Steve Thomas worth?
Where does Steve Thomas (This Old House) live?
Who is Steve Thomas wife today?
#SteveThomas #ThisOldHouse #TomSilva
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[@marvinmartion1178]

As a carpenter of 45 years, I still prefer the old episodes with Norm and Bob Vela.they did projects more like the average person would do and could afford. Today's shows, when I watch, all I can think is this is way beyond the average home owner!

[@csimet]

As are all those "reality" house improvement/flip shows. 99% garbage.

[@scottslotterbeck3796]

Agreed.

[@brucelee4996]

*Bob Vila

[@billdemarce1789]

Villa was such a ass

[@johnnynbk]

It's become a dream home for rich people show.

[@gilbertdare5921]

Steve Thomas was by far the best host still. He had his own experience unlike the other hosts.

[@classifiedinformation6353]

I watched This Old House like a preacher reads the Bible. My Mom recorded every episode for ten years so that there wouldn't be any missed episodes. I even met Norm while he was in Saint Louis on his book promotion. The cast of the show inspired me to buy my own Old House, which I and have enjoyed working on for 20 years. Thanks for all the joy This Old House has brought me and countless others. John Bethel, Missouri

[@skywatcherca]

I know, I know, I know - to each their own, but Steve was the BEST! It was a sad day when Mr. Thomas left TOH. There was a chemistry change: it was never the same. The show, obviously continued (after Steve left), but it was never the same, and I still feel that it was a benchmark, when the show, began to decline. TOH was exceptional; Norm - what a gift, what a great American. TOH - well it's inevitable: all things come to an end, as will I. (comment age-related - I'm old.) NO one and not much lives/continues forever. TOH was a wonderful American gift to all Americans.

[@rons3103]

It was fun meeting Steve Thomas and Norm Abram at Season 24 - The Lake Forest Dream Kitchen after party! It was Steve's final show and he was one of the nicest guys I got to meet. Still have pictures with Norm and Steve. Totally awesome!

[@sydssecrets4213]

Thank you for sharing that 🥰

[@tomhazelton3070]

I worked for him once with two of my friends when I was in college. He was a monumental asshole and paid us like shit -- maybe $3/hour -- for filthy, brutally awful and dangerous work. I can still remember him yelling "Work, boy! Work!" at my friend over an over. He's lucky we didn't chop him up and bury him in the basement. We never worked for him again.

[@danielstrachan8988]

I watched until the end, but I miss the original concept of this old house re doing older houses with smaller budgets and the homeowners were involved. The projects are so huge that the average person can’t come close to bringing this to reality and that is sad. I still watch the shows but it would be nice to see it go back to the more realistic budgets that the average family could do.👍👍

[@supermike0822]

I stopped watching 'This Old House' because they got too big and too long to follow, and the budgets and materials got too exotic. They went from 'here's how you hang paneling' to 'watch as we select this pristine granite and have it milled into custom countertops for the entire home, including the outdoor bar...' kind of stuff.

[@jimprice1959]

Right on.

[@robertwessel6409]

I remember, in one of the first episodes, watching how is install insulation. That was something I could relate to.

[@cdjhyoung]

This Old House ran into trouble starting with the first episode. The original concept was to self finance the projects and roll the resources over from project to project. After the first season and first house, Vila and company couldn't find a buyer for the house and sat on an unsold property for almost 18 months. The second project was the renovation into five condominiums of a doctor's former home. Two units sold before the project was completed, but the other three units lingered on the market, again for over 18 months. That second project only got completed because of all the donated materials and services sponsors provided. I am watching the third series now where Bob is putting up his own money and labor to convert a 25 year old tract house. This is my favorite season by far, and is steeped in many of the ideas people are writing about in these comments. Trouble was Bob Vila had a good idea for a show, but was trying to do it on a self financing plan at a time when the housing market was in turmoil and he couldn't move the properties immediately for what he had put into them. TOH has never been a paint it and fill it kind of show, and that very much worked to its disadvantage early on. Season four is when TOH started using home owner's money to do the improvements, and thus some of its previous concerns with budget and do it yourself went by the wayside. I would like to see This Old House return to its conceptional roots, but it is not going to happen. They show creators need to be able to present new ideas and products to keep their audience interested. There are only so many times you can show putting in bat insulation, or shingling a house with three tab shingles before people tune you out. To get the number of new building ideas they need to show each year, and still have the owners of the properties supply most of the working capital, they need to do these ever increasingly expensive builds. It is unfortunate, and maybe at some point they will be able to step back and re imagine the show to be be closer to the original concept, but not likely as long as their ratings stay up and the production company is profitable.

[@davidpalmer5166]

I remember looking for to This Old House coming on every week. Those guys will always will be the original.

[@lisac3393]

I love this old house .... I still learn so much.

[@whererv1507]

he did a Professional job and was knowledgeable and easy to understand, I appreciate and thank him for his contribution to us and History! good Luck Steve!

[@davefoc]

I really don't like KZbin videos that use the title as a hook and then stretch out the video. I never did figure out why Thomas left the show. It might be buried in there some place. The first part of the video was nice. Thomas seems to be an incredibly interesting character. But the it drifts off into the history of the show and the video gets lost. Also shooner? Is it really pronounced that way somewhere?

[@briangc1972]

I met Steve at a trade show about 2 years before he left. His eye sight was deteriorating, he had some genetic problem and he was having trouble. At that time, he had what would be described as "coke bottle" glasses, extremely thick lenses. He knew his eye sight was going to force him to leave the show sooner than he wanted, but he was realistic about it. I have no doubt it was his eye sight since he stopped hosting the show about 2 years after that day.

[@danhuskey2496]

@@briangc1972 Also,i read in TOH magazine that Steve left on good terms and that he wanted to be behind the camera and producing.After watching him in Secrets of Jamestown [which i think he produced],i could see why he wanted to not just be in front of the camera.He also had the show Renovation Nation.

[@bikeny]

I don't know either. I'm 7 minutes in and still no reason. I'm out.

[@steveengelbrecht7271]

I liked Tom Silva best. He knew the tricks of the trade.

[@scottslotterbeck3796]

Yeah I'd love to hire someone like him.

[@michaelmerck7576]

Silva does miraculously things with just doing sometimes. The simplest calculations instead of tearing everything up.and rebuilding

[@larryscott8540]

I really liked This Old House in the early years with smaller, more realistic projects where the home owner actually got involved doing labor and all. I liked Bob Vilia also. Nothing against any other hosts but after a while, the projects got so ridiculously complex and took away most? If not all, originality of older houses. Also, the home owner was no longer involved.

[@entasis.fifty-four]

Bob Villa was the best host. His pace and information was excellent and much better. I ceased watching the show when Villa was no longer the host.

[@alexo5861]

On one of Bob Villas last seasons hosting there was a specific House/project where at the end Villa made a specific comment about the home owners not doing there part of the work on projects. After that the show moved to more professionals doing the projects. Yes there are way more complex now to the point of most weekend carpenters can’t do the majority of the work but they still give good information and show home owners things that can be done.

[@MrSloika]

Yup. When Villa was host the projects were geared toward the middle class homeowner. When Villa left the 'old' houses were being constructed out of unobtainium intended for the 1%. House porn for the super wealthy. That's when I stopped watching.

[@larryscott8540]

@@MrSloika I couldn’t have said it better!

[@okjoe5561]

I was a huge fan for decades but it's all million dollar remodels now and I don't watch anymore.

[@curiousnomadic]

He's one heck of an interesting, learned and capable guy. He's a higher achiever than 99% of the population. Why is he not more famous? He's worth a fortune. Too bad he's getting on in years.

[@tomhazelton3070]

I once spent a day working for him with two friends when I was in high school or college. He was renovating an old house in Salem, MA. It was incredibly dusty, dirty, dangerous, and grueling work, and he was yelling "Work, boy!" all day long. I was shocked by what an asshole this guy was. At the end of the day, he paid us each a single $20 bill, which wound up being a little over $3/hour. Fuck that guy! He treated us and "paid" us like slave labor. We never worked for him again.

[@bluecollar58]

I hated when he replaced Bob.

[@tomhazelton3070]

I worked for him for one day over 30 years ago. He was an asshole and a cheapskate. He treated us like slaves and wound up paying us like $3/hour. Fuck that guy!

[@richardtaylor9798]

I watched till the end. Still watch it!

[@teresawysocki5729]

Me too

[@glenselenselvs]

Every saturday late afternoon i was looking for seeing OPB PBS and especifically this show. Let me tell you i enjoyed very much. Thanks TOH . Somewhere in Mexico !

[@ZDToxicGaming-qf6jl]

This is killer work :)

[@laff000]

This old house needs to get back to their roots which is what made the show special. Those of us who owned older homes would get a lot of knowledge and confidence to tackle these big home projects. Todays home improvement tell us this is what Im doing. TOH showed us how and why. Today TOH remodels rich liberals houses that are not too far from Boston. Then do a complete rip out and remodel while pushing green technology, all of which is beyond most of our budgets.

[@aruvaboy1736]

Did Steve really have a beard back then? Couldn't find any pics or vids of him rocking one.

[@AZMTB]

This was worse than those recipes written by hipster bloggers looking for ad revenue by making the recipe for chocolate cookies a mile long and you just scroll to the part where they give you the damn recipe.

[@bradhandel957]

Exactly this! "Why did Steve Thomas leave TOH"? kzbin.info/www/bejne/aqO9o4uqoZmGhck from 10:10 to 10:33, that answers the question!

[@martinschulz9381]

Great show, but I wouldn't label it as a "reality show"..because reality shows have nothing to do with reality.

[@brucer81]

I never was a Steve Thomas fan. The show was a continuous success in spite of Steve’s contribution not because of it. I was glad to see him leave This Old House.

[@travelingfool9096]

I liked Bob the best, but I can't stand Kevin. Steve was ok

[@scottslotterbeck3796]

I've liked all the hosts. I prefer more modest projects though.

[@michaelmerck7576]

I always thought that Steve Thomas just didn't have the complete confidence of the pros like Silva and abrams,I could easily be wrong about that but it seem they tried to get him out-of the way so they could finish their jobs

[@markmorgan5031]

Steve is way better than the know they have on here now..if people can remember who watches the show he was on a episode asking this old house and then he became a expert in a episode and now hosts the show..only in the good ol USA.. and I'm not American

[@Josh-pg3km]

Yeah thats what great about America, anyone can be successful. And while Steve may have had more knowledge than Kevin, thier hosting styles are pretty simular.

[@antoniogamerenglish9720]

I was just wondering the exact same thing!!

[@batsonelectronics]

I could never stand Bob Vila, so happy when he left. Steve Thomas was great, still miss him even though Kevin did a great job replacing him. Have loved this show since the early 80's. I did not know how many things Steve had done in his lifetime. He is an amazing man it seems.

[@66limelight]

I liked Steve too and I'm surprised at the comments against him. Sometimes Bob liked to pontificate on how much he knew about something which was kind of a turn off for me. I didn't dislike him, but I just like Steve and Kevin more. Both Steve and Kevin got better as time went on and with Bob being the original and loved by many, I don't think it matters who replaced him, many would not have liked the replacement. Why are they showing clips of Bob's show "Home Again"?

[@ryanyoung746]

I watched to the end!

[@Will-rolo8]

I watched till the end.

[@staudtj1]

I never cared for Steve. It often seemed like he treated clients properties as if He owned them.

[@pyhead9916]

He was not good at asking relevant questions! I often thought of him as a construction moron!

[@michaelmerck7576]

The host has to do what the owners wanted so.maybe that was just a natural way to see the project through the owners eyes.norm and Tom always wanted to to the best ways to.do.a project and both were disappointed when.the owners preferred to do something they felt was.mot the optimum way

[@tomhazelton3070]

I worked for him for one day with two of my friends over thirty years ago. He was a monumental asshole who thought it was funny to yell "Work, boy! Work!" over and over throughout the day. It was filthy, grueling, and dangerous work, and he paid us about $3/hour at the end of the day. Fuck that guy! He treated us like we were his slaves for the day.

[@terryrerecich3869]

Bob Vila was the 1st host, Steve Thomas was the 2nd host. I didn't know TOH is considered a reality show.

[@curiousnomadic]

3:07 Anyone know what this documentary was called?

[@michaeldaniels4938]

I watched til the End.

[@dyip32]

5:30 That is EXACTLY the reason I enjoy watching TOH. It helps me understand why I'm being quoted the price for the job being planned for. Then that helps me consider if it's worthwhile to hire a contractor, or try my hand at it

[@Matthewsoxfan]

I watched till the end

[@spanishpeaches2930]

Often used to watch This Old House here in the UK when SteveT was on it. Always interesting.

[@jjyemg2397]

I still have those books mentioned @ around 9:00

[@stevejensen3471]

Steve was a dynamic host, had his own unique energy that really made the show, and has continued his great legacy as he heads up Steve Thomas Builders out of Port Clyde, Maine. As much flak as Bob Vila gets as the original host though, Bob was the pathfinder of the then unknown genre and really set the stage for all those that have followed.

[@davidschechter5470]

i watched till the end

[@stevenvlasuk7416]

i watched till the end. Great Job Steve

[@04tommac]

I watched to the end.

[@frankpaquet295]

I loved watching this show and I loved Steve Thomas as the in charge guy. I thought he did a great job. The show has changed a lot over the years and I'm surprised that the current guy Kevin O'connor, is still there and wasn't complained about more; he asked tons of crazy questions! (from Sandi)

[@supermike0822]

LOL... Kevin has gotten better over the years, but he was ANNOYING the first few years! He would ask stuff like "so how do you hold this hammer?" and clearly did not even have basic carpentry or tool-handling skills.

[@aurvaroy6670]

@@supermike0822 Well he never did because he was previously a VP of Fleet Bank. Rumor has it that his wife had been offered to host but she turned it down so it went to Kevin who accepted.

[@karenryder6317]

Kevin grew into the job and mastered it. Tommy Silva, who was right there through all three hosts, said Kevin was the best.

[@indinananana8237]

I* watched to the end.

[@tommysfather]

Steve Thomas was the best host T O H followed by Bob Villa. Steve presented himself as knowledgeable and always seemed to have a very warm smile. Don't appreciate the newer versions of T O H.

[@bingomusickenya]

Hugely delightful!!

[@crchoice]

Please lay off the drugs my friend, because they're really bad for your health.

[@jeffreysearle2996]

Go find his first appearance on this old house, he told this old couple their barn was toast, the poor guy jerks his head back in pain while young Steve going on and on. Classic.

[@scottslotterbeck3796]

I remember that episode.

[@XPEEDOFF]

That's slick and clean mate

[@augustreil]

It would be nice if we could understand you talking.

[@blackcreater11studio37]

I think I'm crying. It's that neat.

[@jamesclark6142]

I thought the original title of the show was "Bob Villa's This Old House"

[@thesaexplorer]

"This Old House with Bob Vila"

[@scottslotterbeck3796]

No, never

[@RIDEWITHMANI]

I agree 100% with everything

[@tomhollis2685]

I liked Steve Thomas. I like Kevin O'Conner even better. Kevin is more like the viewer, some skill and some knowledge but looking to learn and do more. As some have said, the projects did get too big and costly. But then they brought on Ask This Old House which is geared more to you and me and our budgets. I can't speak much to Bob Vila as I have only seen him on a few replays, but the host cannot be the expert. If he was doing that, it was probably time to make a change.

[@karenryder6317]

Tommy Silva paid Kevin the ultimate compliment when he recently stated that all the hosts were great but Kevin was simply the best.

[@scottslotterbeck3796]

@@karenryder6317 yeah, but maybe just buttering him up. My fav was probably Bob Vila. But they're all good. Tom Siva could build a moon rocket if he wanted.

[@iwantosavemoney]

It went down hill when they started using spokes people and not tradesmen.

[@marty9660]

Narrator sounds like Carl Sagan, billions and billions and billions.

[@Jack-ne8vm]

Maybe TOH is doing bigger projects because small places now cost a million.

[@shawncirignano4876]

Not a good title. You start off with a biography of Steve Thomas. That's not in your title???

[@razony]

Same reason I have an Ex-wife...all 3 of them.

[@kencornelius9584]

This would be a better video if the narrator would speak slower! Slow down, it's not a race!

[@marty9660]

0.75 speed helps

[@kevinyost5635]

I like tom Silva

[@thoughtchallenge]

TOH is the original reality TV show...What does that make Norm Abrams?

[@stevejensen3471]

As the longest single fixture on TOH for 43 years before he finally retired, I think it makes him a cherished national treasure!

[@peem1244]

Steve's first love is sailing and he left TOH to host a sailing channel.

[@pyhead9916]

I hope he's better at that than he was on This Old House.

[@BrantAerials]

I watched ti the end despite the horrible voice over.

[@larrymiller4]

Steve was a know-it-all who apparently knew not much about building.

[@mwilk19]

He wasn't hired to be a contractor or carpenter, he was a TV host. Nobody tried to make it seem otherwise.

[@mcarroll598]

Way better host then the replacement Kevin.

[@freedomliberty7611]

You must be kidding? Steve was horrible Bob Vila was great he was the first to ever host a DIY show so he had no one to copy. Kevin is great. So happy when Steve left. He just didn't fit. The show worked in spite of him.

[@mcarroll598]

@@freedomliberty7611 no I’m not. Kevin wrote into the show ASK THIS OLD HOUSE on how to remove wallpaper. Then next thing he is hosting THIS OLD HOUSE! Norm or Tom or Rich should be the host.

[@karenryder6317]

@@mcarroll598 You really have to look long range. Kevin grew into his role. Before long, his questions were spot on--just the ones that were in my mind as I watched.

[@mcarroll598]

@@karenryder6317 so you think he comes up with all these questions? No input from the producers?

[@truckerdaddy-akajohninqueb4793]

I ptefer his episodes. There's something about the new guy that I have never liked. Kevin reminds me of a snarky kid I knew in school

[@r.krajvideototal]

'I watched till the end'

[@freedomliberty7611]

Steve was horrible the show was a success in spite of him. Bob Vila was a trailblazer along with Russell Morash's idea. So happy when he left.

[@mikehands61]

A better question is, why was he there in the first place?

[@travelingfool9096]

because Home Depot said "fire Bob".

[@scottslotterbeck3796]

Bob Vila was fired for doing commercials for Sears Craftsman products.

[@johnhermanson5249]

Kinda ruined by the computer generated narration. I too stopped watching because the projects they took on were for the wealthy. Not your average houses that needed some work.

[@Kenjiro5775]

Because he had a snide and generally negative attitude that the audience sensed, and disliked.

[@lookup2one]

I was glad when Kevin replaced him!

[@karenryder6317]

I know. There was a certain arrogance about Steve that I can't prove with examples but was something I sensed.

[@karenryder6317]

Kevin is warmer, asks just the right questions and seems more humble.

[@joestocking]

I’m not fake bot commenter.

[@CashisKingtrucking]

Can someone please tell this robot to get to the point!

[@MsJfraser]

Your shooner is pronounced skooner.

[@lynfl9814]

The guy doing this piece talks way to fast and at times is hard to understand. This was about Steve Thomas; but, for quite a bit of the piece your are showing the current host, Kevin O'Connor. I was not impressed with this video.

[@teresagradolf974]

Tom noddy Thomas tibbett medford psalms 91

[@newnormal1841]

❎ he did it all Now time to retire. 🤺💐

[@mrvk007]

It's appealing not just nice!

[@seanpalmer6639]

IWTTE

[@rat8356]

i didnt like that dude or vilala...both acted so smug...loved the show though

[@jonwinship9099]

I never warmed up to Steve Thomas's replacement, Kevin O'Conner. While Steve brought to the series the former rough and tumble life of a sailor and home renovator, Kevin's too polished, too much like the former banker he was.

[@Matthewsoxfan]

I war

[@workingshlub8861]

never big fan on bob vila......i like steve and kevin

[@scottslotterbeck3796]

I liked Bob. He knew what he was talking about. Friendly.

[@ianoliver3879]

Oh dear. Very badly-made stuff. I hope the 'House' programmes were better.

[@walkergillette3918]

P.B.S. THE PROPAGANDA BROADCASTING SERVICE

[@rbeck820]

I quit watching This Old House when they got rid of Bob Vila. It's been a shit show ever since.

[@Cnqvv]

L

[@daveklein2826]

Who cares

[@robertrockwell7581]

have not watched the show in the last i5 years. never liked Steve Thomas smart alec. and don't care for Keven O'connor. just the same old house different town. also do not like Roger cook or Tom Silva.

[@shadowman3320]

Sounds like your problem, not theirs.

[@westhavenor9513]

You would have to be evil to not like Roger Cook--like people who hate dogs.

[@scottslotterbeck3796]

You don't like anyone. Were you one of the 400 rejected hosts?

[@nesaclark1059]

I watched till the end.

[@thecatdaddy1974]

I watched till the end

[@knittingnana2939]

I watched till the end

[@alortiz5257]

I watched till the end

[@howifixit6206]

I watched till the end

[@kenchampness8240]

I watched till the end

[@AXFEP69]

I watched till the end

[@charlie225]

I watched till the end

[@Gouthamsai091]

I watched till the end

[@ASGaming-ll2cj]

I watched till the end